Then I said, "Dr. Pettigrew, I believe you came to this city on a professional matter?"
"Yes, I did." He didn't hesitate to answer, so I figured I hadn't got his goat too much.
"And what was the nature of that matter?"
"I was asked to come here by Mr. Harold Thursby, the District Attorney, to perform some scientific tests on the ... er ... device ... the device known as People's Exhibit A."
"Did you perform these tests?"
"I did."
"At the request of District Attorney Thursby, is that right?"
"That is correct."
"May I ask why Mr. Thursby did not call you as a witness for the prosecution?"
Thursby, as I had expected, was on his feet. "Objection! The question calls for a conclusion of the witness!"